Liam Cooper sends 3-word message to Karl Darlow as Leeds United seal big win v Middlesbrough | OneFootball

The Whites got back to winning ways on Tuesday evening against Boro, returning to the top of the table in the process.

Liam Cooper has congratulated Leeds United goalkeeper Karl Darlow, as he kept his first clean sheet in the Championship this season in a 1-0 win over Middlesbrough on Tuesday evening.

The Whites secured all three points early on in the contest as Dan James got onto the end of a low, driven Manor Solomon cross to fire his side into the lead just two minutes in.

Daniel Farke was left frustrated by two decisions that went against his team, as Ao Tanaka and Patrick Bamford had goals disallowed for offside, despite both being onside when they received the ball in the box in the first and second halves.

Nevertheless, it was a vital victory for Leeds, and one that saw them overtake both Burnley and Sheffield United as they dropped points to Derby County and Millwall respectively, returning to the top of the table in the process.

With just five games to go this season, the promotion race is starting to heat up, and every game matters even more than they previously did as the West Yorkshire outfit look to right the wrongs of 2023/24 and secure their return to the Premier League after two years away.

Cooper sends message to Darlow after clean sheet v Middlesbrough

The decision to drop Illan Meslier for Darlow on Saturday against Luton Town was one that felt a long-time coming after the Frenchman had been on the wrong end of multiple mistakes this season, with Farke opting for experience between the posts.

However, the 34-year-old has not played a lot of football recently, and it was always going to be a risk bringing him in at such a significant time in the campaign. Nevertheless, he had a decent level of command over his defence on Tuesday, making two saves to deny Middlesbrough any chance of a point at the Riverside.

It was a performance Darlow was especially proud of, and he celebrated the victory on his Instagram.

His former Leeds teammate and current CSKA Sofia defender, Cooper, sent his congratulations to the Wales international: "Well done brother 👏🏻👏🏻"

It was the ex-Nottingham Forest shot-stopper's first clean sheet in the league since he was playing for Hull City on loan from Newcastle United, as the Tigers ran out 1-0 winners against Watford in April 2023.

Darlow has done enough to keep the gloves for another match

Meslier's time at Elland Road looks to be done, with Alan Nixon reporting on Sunday that Leeds will sell the 25-year-old in the summer, whether promotion to the Premier League is won or not.

Therefore, it seems unlikely that he will return to the starting XI any time soon, and Darlow has the chance to prove to Farke that he should be his only choice for the position from now until the end of the season.

It is clear that the Whites need a new first-choice shot-stopper, and with James Trafford and Nick Pope touted as potential replacements, it is clear to see that they are strengthening in that department.

However, they still have five games to go in 2024/25, and Darlow has to remain consistent to ensure that Leeds get over the line and return to the top flight.